Kickin’ Butt at the KIC IT

 

Move outta my way guys - I'm going (center, left blue arm)!

I’m still trying to figure out why I had the race glow for a week later after this Stamford, CT based race sponsored by the organization Kids in Crisis when all I did was the .9 mile swim portion of the relay.  I did have a PR of 34:00:07 (including about a 30 second run to the chip mat) but as I look back, it wasn’t so much the time but the confidence I had for the first time of the season, and in the event that was once my weakness.

Relays are great because you can just focus on one event and not worry so much about all of the logistics.  They allow you to both be part of the action and to be a spectator, giving you a great tri experience with less of the stress.

It helped that I had an opportunity to warm up both the day before and the morning of the race.  I had decided going into the race that I would give it my all, since I was only doing one event.  Still, since relays usually go last and put the best, former swim team member they can find on their team, I had that “I’m going to be the last out of the water” worry going into the swim.  As I looked around at all of the yellow caps, I realized I was also in the biggest wave and would be surrounded by the male 45+ age group in addition to the relay teams.

Not wanting to get pummeled, I decided to start in the back.  But a funny thing happened on the way to the buoys.  As I look at the pictures, I was actually a bit in the middle, leaving some of the guys behind me at the start.  I also decided to give myself a slow start, and I actually thought all of my wave was far ahead of me.  Perhaps they were, but as I rounded the first buoy I was amongst a pack.  And I was mumbling inside, “get out of my way”!

I sighted each buoy perfectly.  Mid-way through, I was catching up to people in prior waves.  In the home stretch I felt strong as I saw other swimmers slowing to catch their breath.  I had paced myself perfectly.  As I got out of the water, my watch read 33 something. I ran out of the water and sprinted as fast as I could.  By the time I got to the transition area, I was huffing and puffing.



Mike on bike



Cheerleaders keeps Ben strong at the finish!

Mike took the chip and went off on the bike, returning to T2 1:20:50 later. Our new friend Ben was off for the run to bring the relay team home in 2:48:47. We finished 9/23 amongst the mixed relay teams, with me placing 13th in the swim, Mike 5th on the bike and Ben 4th on the run.

I’m still glowing. I’ve come a long way in my swimming.

Our mixed relay team finished 9/23

 


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